Ridgefield has become increasingly reliant on residential property taxes to fund town expenses. My father’s employer, Schlumberger – once Ridgefield’s second-largest taxpayer and a Fortune 500 company – left for Cambridge, MA in 2006. With its departure, millions of dollars in real estate and personal property (equipment) taxes disappeared from our tax rolls. Nearly 20 years later, Ridgefield has yet to replace Schlumberger’s tax contributions. Ridgefield also rejected IBM’s offer – another Fortune 500 company – to build a training office in town, a decision that could have significantly expanded our tax base. Elmer Perkins and Silicon Valley Group left Ridgefield at the turn of the 20th century.

Meanwhile, neighboring towns are moving forward. Fortune 500 Company ASML recently committed to a $200M investment in Wilton, including growing its existing building and the acquisition of an additional campus — growing Wilton’s tax base. New Canaan’s commercial grand list has grown significantly since 2011 — aided by Bankwell Bank’s commitment to a new headquarters with up to 120 employees. Darien’s commercial grand list has grown by nearly $200M over the past 15 years — and Fortune 500 insurance giant Aon and global consulting firm McKinsey are opening offices. By contrast, Ridgefield’s largest publicly announced commercial addition this year is a Dollar Tree. Many office buildings and spaces sit vacant in Ridgefield; they represent a missed opportunity to reduce the tax burden on home owners and small businesses.

In Ridgefield, Pamby Motors – a family business that sells, services, and repairs cars — has routinely topped the town’s taxpayer list. Multi-generation families like the Pambianchis, Montanaris, and Sperrys built this town. They have coached our teams, staffed our fire departments, and volunteered their time for decades. They have done enough – we should not break peoples’ backs with ever-rising taxes.

We will work to create a clear economic strategy for Ridgefield: one that cuts residential property taxes and finds new non-residential revenue sources. We will first focus on filling vacant office space with businesses that have proprietary equipment that can be taxed. We will offer a set of local and state incentives to improve business recruitment and retention – and meaningfully grow the grand list. We will endeavor to increase the town’s investment income. We will pursue every state and federal grant available to Ridgefield — and bring home every possible dollar for our taxpayers. We will leverage the networks of business leaders who live in town for the greater good to support the families that call our community home.

We can pursue these goals while also protecting Ridgefield’s character, preserving its downtown, and maintaining our open space.